Alternative Names

How the Test is Performed

At the lab, the technician places the blood sample on special paper and applies an electric current. The proteins move on the paper and form bands that show the amount of each protein.

How to Prepare for the Test

You may be asked not to eat to drink (fast) for 4 hours before the test.

Certain medicines may affect the results of this test. Your doctor will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines. Do not stop any medicine before talking to your doctor.

Medicines that can affect the test results include:

Chlorpromazine

Corticosteroids

Phenacemide

Salicylates

Some kinds of antibiotics

Tolbutamide

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is done to look at globulin proteins in the blood. Identifying the types of globulins can help diagnose certain medical problems.

Globulins are roughly divided into three groups: alpha, beta, and gamma globulins. Gamma globulines include various types of antibodies such as immunoglobulins (Ig) M, G, and A.

Certain diseases are associated with overproduction of immunoglobulins. For example, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia is a cancer of certain white blood cells that is associated with the overproduction IgM antibodies.

Normal Results

Normal values ranges are:

Serum globulin: 2.0 to 3.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter)

IgM component: 75 to 300 mg/dL

IgG component: 650 to 1850 mg/dL

IgA component: 90 to 350 mg/dL

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples.Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include: